Joanna turned 11 months old yesterday she seems to small to be almost a year old.  She took her first steps 5 time she took 1-2 steps and was very thrilled so thrilled she started on a clapping spree.  She has clapped for us before but she really claps now especially if you say yea!! It doesnt stop there she also used a spoon yestday to feed herself some cottage cheese.  So there you have it Joanna seems to feel that you should go big or go home and she was ready to accomplish some tuff stuff yesterday. 

                                                 What a wonderful Christmas this will be!

Savor the moments

      Christmas is almost here I think I was too prepared.  I have all my shopping done which was easy because Mike's work is slow so the budjet was tight. My brother is hosting Christmas Eve and my Mother Christmas so I wont have to cook much.  Yet I'm still anxious because I have nothing to keep me busy in the mean time.  Just trying to keep on with the daily schedule with the kids and enjoy time with them.

       For instance this morning I realized it's really time to move my baking items to a higher shelf in the pantry.  Everytime I open that door I have two kids trying to wiggle past me.  This morning while getting Joseph cereal he squeezed past me and ended up having shredded wheat with marshmellows and sprinkles.  I usually give them pretty balanced meals but he will only be 2 once and I want it to be special.

Christmas card

My Mother-in-Law Melinda had us fill out a favorites list to use in her Christmas card in leu of a Christmas letter so I though it would be fun to post our answers on here as well:

FOOD:
Joseph fruit snacks from costco,we're trying to week him off
Joanna food baked sweet potato and venison stew once she ate more stew than Mike
Mommy...food..coffee......
Mike Prime Rib

SONG:
Joseph lol..so cute he loves the Hokey Pokey
Joanna Patty Cake
Mom..Twinkle Twinkle because joseph sings along to the whole thing but can't quite pronounce the words and he overly drags out the r in starrr
Mike Danny's Song

PLACE:
Joseph Shopping even if it's just to get groceries he is a caracter and people in public are his audience if he senses that we're headed home after the gym he gets upset and says"no home mommy shopping! "
Joanna Loves home she is free to crawl.climb.rumage.wander ect
Mom My bed right before the day starts joseph climbs in bed with me every morning still groggy and cuddles with me
Mike 12,000 ft in Colorado Wilderness

HOBBIES
Joseph Coloring usually fish that don't look like fish kites or really big circles!
Joanna Joseph..no really she follows him climbs on him copies him she thinks he is amazing
Mom Everything, most recently photography
Mike Hunting

SAYING
Joseph " One more"
Joanna " What's that? " with her chubby finger pointed at something
Mom "Last one"
Mike "Whatever"

ACCOMPLISHMENT
Joseph Steering his trike, before he wouldn't steer just peddle and peddle until he ran into an object then yell" mom, I stuck!"
Joanna is 10 months old so it's something new each week this week standing for 30 seconds and counting and talking
Mom Creating two amazing children of course
Mike Shooting first bull elk

MOVIE/TV
Joseph Loves anything on disney diego Mickey mouse ect
Joannas Favorite book is any that double as a teether
Moms Favorite film Pretty Women will never get old as a kid I didn't realize she was a hooker as a teen I wanted those boots as a 20 something I wanted that knight in shining armor and as a mom I realize that just when you think you have it all figured out life happens...and now I wish I could pull off those boots
Mike American Pickers..If my wife wasnt a habitual organizer we'd be horders

Oh Christmas Tree

Joseph is having a sleep over at Grandma's tonight.  She had all the little kids over to decorate the tree and play.  Cant wait to hear all about the fun they had!.

Sunny December Day

time is a tickin'...

Joanna is almost 12 months old awww! She points at things and says "what's that?"  I'm convinced she is going to walk anytime now.  Several times a day I look over at her and she is just standing there not holding on to a single thing.  I literaly cannot belive how fast she has grown.  She had a fever this week and after talking to the pediatric nurse I realized I had given her a Tylenol dose for a 6 month old. 

Joseph has the temper of a 2 year old but the personality of a 4 year old.  Im amazed at the things he says.  He makes up random stories about things he did.  Today he told a story of how he went to Grandpa's house and waited out in his work shop for the snow to come because thats where you can hear it coming.  We have imaginary battles with pirates that magically turn into monsters.  His imagination has gone wild everything serves a purpose...a pen is a snake a lid is a plate of cookies.  Everyday he has a new phrase today our new kitten was hidding from him and he said "Hey! Whats the big idea?" This week he told me "I  two Jonana one" When I asked how old mommy was he said "too old"